Walk in Katniss' footsteps at NC's 'Hunger Games' filming locations

Sunday

Jun 8, 2014 at 12:01 AM

Die-hard fans of "The Hunger Games" movie are flocking to Western North Carolina, where they can train as tributes, visit filming locations and even consume the same foods as their favorite characters as participants in the Unofficial Hunger Games Fan Tours.

By CHRISTINE BOUSHFor the Herald-Journal

BREVARD, N.C. — Die-hard fans of “The Hunger Games” movie are flocking to Western North Carolina, where they can train as tributes, visit filming locations and even consume the same foods as their favorite characters as participants in the Unofficial Hunger Games Fan Tours.“Last year, we had visitors from 42 states and three countries,” said Tammy Hopkins, co-founder of the Unofficial Hunger Games Fan Tours in Brevard, N.C. “These experiences cater to the 'superfans' who want to experience what their favorite characters experienced in the movie at any given film location.”Hopkins said participants can choose a day tour of filming locations at DuPont State Recreational Forest or opt for a more immersive adventure weekend that includes a modified game simulation in which fans compete as tributes. A day trip to Henry River Mill Village, where the District 12 scenes were filmed, also is available.“The adventure weekend is ideal for fans looking to role-play for more than a day,” Hopkins said. “We hold a reaping, give survival lessons — teaching such things as shelter building, making fires and how to camouflage yourself — and then on Sunday they're tossed into a nonlethal version of the games.”Emily Debuck, 19, her sister, Elyse DeBuck, 24, and cousin Madison Fay, 18, traveled from Houston to participate in the day tour, which in addition to visiting film sites, includes survival workshops where participants learn how to camouflage like Peeta, shoot arrows like Katniss and practice sling shot techniques like Rue.“I'm a hardcore 'Hunger Games' fan,” Emily Debuck said. “I love Jennifer Lawrence, and this is like sacred ground to walk where she walked.”Emily Debuck said her family already had been planning a trip to visit relatives in Western North Carolina, but “The Hunger Games” fanaticism quickly took over after her grandfather sent an email about the tour.“I was like 'Mom, we are going; this is a once-in-a-lifetime tour,' ” Emily said. “I wouldn't have missed this for the world, and I've learned a bunch of fun facts about how scenes were filmed, and I'm even more impressed knowing the challenges Jennifer Lawrence faced in doing her own stunts.”Hopkins, who also serves as a tour guide, divulged yet another Jennifer Lawrence movie tidbit as she directed the attention of her eager audience toward a shallow, ankle-deep pool at the base of Bridal Veils Falls.“This is Katniss' pool,” Hopkins said. “They used sandbags to diverge the flow of water from the falls to this pool to make it deep enough that Jennifer Lawrence could safely jump into it during the scene where she is fleeing from the fire.”

Elyse Debuck said what most impressed her more than the movie trivia was learning the “Hunger Games” crew spent days off helping to revitalize the DuPont Park.“I studied tourism sciences, and I've learned a lot today about how much the movie crew gave back to the community,” Elyse Debuck said. “One of the cool things about these tours is that they help ensure continuing access to this beautiful area.”The Texas trio said they were already planning another road trip so they could experience the full adventure weekend that includes night time zip-lining, a costumed Capital ball and a chance to win the game simulation.Emily Debuck said her strategy to win in the game simulation would be to copy Rue and hide in a tree.“I've thought a lot — like multiple times — about what my strategy for the games would be.” Debuck said with a sheepish laugh. “I'm not very good at climbing trees but I figured it's the kind of thing I can learn on the fly, especially with the adrenalin rush of other tributes trying to kill me.”

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